Syrians in US Deserve a TPS Redesignation, Not Just an Extension, Says ILRC

Syrians in US Deserve a TPS Redesignation, Not Just an Extension, Says Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Syria which would afford continued protection from deportation to nearly 7,000 Syrian TPS holders. DHS did not, however, redesignate TPS, leaving Syrians who arrived to the United States after August 2016 vulnerable to deportation.

“We are glad the Department of Homeland Security made the right choice by extending TPS protection for thousands of Syrians who live and work in our communities, but without a redesignation to accompany it too many people will still be vulnerable to deportation back to a country deeply ravaged by a catastrophic civil war.

“We remain extremely concerned for the Syrians who escaped extreme violence but are unable to apply for TPS because they sought safety in the US after the last designation. The extraordinary conditions and ongoing armed conflict that prompted the last TPS extension and redesignation for Syria still plague the country today, in its seventh year of a civil war that created the greatest refugee crisis since WWII. It is stunningly cruel to leave any Syrian national here in our country susceptible to deportation when such volatile conditions continue to affect their country.”

The ILRC joined a coalition of over fifty human rights, immigration, legal, and faith groups in sending a letter to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and State Department Secretary Rex Tillerson advocating for the extension and redesignation of TPS for Syrians. ILRC urges legal practitioners to review its Practice Alert on Ramirez v. Brown for more information on how to help TPS holders living in certain parts of the U.S. (the jurisdictions covered by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th and 6th Circuits) that may be eligible to pursue options to adjust their status.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policymakers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities.www.ilrc.org